But underneath the explosive persona of the former Kaizer Chiefs coach is a calculating and level-headed football brain that in less emotional moments usually comes up with the right answers. And when relegation-threatened PSL club Arrows this week announced the signing of Ivorian former World Cup goalkeeper Stefan Loboue, Ertugral's proclaimed, calculated intention to sign six key new players during January's transfer window took shape.
Arrows had already announced the signing of midfielder Clifford Ngobeni and striker Siphelele Mthembu from Orlando Pirates, Ugandan international midfielder Tony Mawejje, AmaZulu midfielder Sibusiso Hadebe and goalkeeper Andre Petim, who is on loan from Ajax Cape Town. "We may be close to the border of the relegation zone in 12th position in the log," said Arrows' seasoned coach, "and we want to rid ourselves of this uncomfortable spectre. But our ambitions are of a much higher level." Ertugral said Arrows' first objective was to qualify for a place among the top eight positions in the log. "But that is only the first objective," added the Arrows coach. "With the quality players we now have in our squad I believe we can aim to be among the leading teams in the Premier League."
The signing of Loboue followed on Ertugral's unhappiness with the club's long-time Brazilian goalkeeper, Helton da Rocha, a stalwart for the Durban club over the past four years, but whose form has dipped somewhat this season.
The Ivorian goalkeeper participated in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany and helped his country reach the semi-final stage of the 2008 African Nations Cup Finals. Since then he has played for German club Rot-Weiss Oberhausen, before terminating his stay with the German club at the start of the current season. "With Loboue, Petim and Da Rocha competing for the goalkeeping berth," said Ertugral, "and bringing the best out of each other, I'm sure our goalkeeping problems will be at an end."
But the Arrows' coach revealed that as well as aiming to sign an overall six players before the PSL's Premier League programme resumes on February 15, the club might release as many as six players from the existing squad as well. And the new-look Arrows will be hoping to be on target when they resume their Premier League programme with a tricky away game against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium in Bloemfontein on 15 February. That's the cooler, calmer and more calculated Ertugral holding sway and planning for the future.